Exhausted Exeter Tumbles to Tabor

This past Saturday, Exeter girls’ basketball hosted Tabor Academy. Although Big Red fought valiantly, the reigning champions could not keep up with the skilled Tabor team. The loss puts the girls’ team at a record of 0-2.Tabor has been one of Big Red’s toughest opponents for the past few years. Its players lived up to their legacy, staying agressive through all four quarters. They played intelligently and worked well with each other.Although the girls faced fierce competition, they were able to keep up with Tabor in the beginning of the game. Lower Ella Johnson explained, “Considering the fact that we have a new coach, a new offensive lineup and new players on the team, I’m very proud of how the first half of the game went.”

“Our goal this season is definitely conditioning, which will come with our intense practices.”

Captain and senior Peace Kabari applauded the team’s efforts. “We did a good job of finding the seams in their defense and attacking but struggled to finish afterwards,” she said. Although the team members did not put up many points, they still create a lot of opportunities. Lower Charlotte Polk agreed with Kabari, noting that their chances came from moving the ball well and being aggressive.However, in the second half of the game, Tabor’s talent was tough for Exeter to match as their energy waned. After halftime, the Tabor squad quickly pulled away from Exeter. Big Red’s girls were out of gas and slightly discouraged by the widening gap between the two scores. They battled Tabor the best they could for the rest of the game, but the damage had been done.The struggles Exeter suffered during the game helped highlight key points that the team needs to improve upon. Kabari described the preparation for future games. “Our goal this season is definitely conditioning, which will come with our intense practices,” she said. “We all put in a great effort until the end. We [will] work to play better than we did in our last game.”Although Exeter suffered a difficult loss to Tabor, the girls are ready to bounce back. Polk described the team’s emotions. “I would say we feel a little disappointed, but I think it's just the placement of the games,” she said. “Nobody wants to start a season with two losses, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still win every game that we have left.”The girls look to snap their tough two-game losing streak and improve their record for the rest of the season. They hope to come back from Christmas break carrying a winning record after two more games at Hotchkiss later in the week.